Rumor: Timberwolves considered trading Kevin Love?

Kevin Love is making a name for himself in the NBA with his breakout season for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

It turns out he’s been on the Denver Nuggets’ radar for quite some time. Nuggets coach George Karl said Wednesday night that the team asked Minnesota about trading for Love this summer. "I know there were inquiries," Karl said before the Nuggets played the Timberwolves. "In some of the meetings we talked and his name was out there. It never got close, I know that."

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The best trades are sometimes the ones you don’t make.

Case in point: the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kevin Love. This summer, the Wolves made Love available and, according to the Denver Nuggets, took offers for him.

Thankfully, they didn’t move Love because he has improved from promising post to legit’ superstar. Best of all, he’s become the face of this downtrodden franchise.

To be fair: perhaps the Wolves were justified in shopping Love, the current league leader in rebounding. Before this year, Love was often injured, out of shape, and shooting off his mouth via twitter.

Of course, the Timberwolves also had to decide between Love and Al Jefferson. Both were talented power forwards, and it became obvious a platoon system at the four-spot wouldn’t fly.

So Executive David Kahn listened to offers for both, kept Love, and dealt Jefferson to the Utah Jazz. It could have been the other way, though. Love changing area codes; Jefferson staying in The Frozen Tundra of Sota.

Whether by luck or design, the Timberwolves kept Love. And this is one decision they got right.